The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-16
LESSON FOR APRIL "a, 1887.
THE MIGRATION.

After Joseph had made himself known to
his brethren, and Pharaoh had learned Of
their arrival, the king sent message to them
by joseph to return to Canaan and bring
their father and their families into Egypt,
promising 10 provide them with the finest
productions of the land, and authorized Jo-
seph to make ample provision for their trans
portation and sustenance. Pharaoh's graf
itude to Joseph for the wise and faithful ad-
ministration of the high Office to which he
had appointed him is manifested in good
will to his fathers family whom he invites to
settle in the best of the land. Joseph did
according TO Pharaohs instructions, making
presents of clothing (dress suts) to his breth-
rem, giving five suits to Benjamin and three
hundred shekels) of silver, and sending
"good things" to his father. When the
brothers returned to their father and con-
vinced him that Joseph was still alive and q
great man in Egypt, his sorrowing heart re-
vived, and he resolved TO go Immediately to
see him before he died.
On the way to Egypt the company of emil
grants halted at Beer-sheba, Jacobs early
of his brother, whom he had wronged. Here
he worshiped at the altar of his father Isaac,
and grandfather Abraham, and COP appear
ed unto him in a dream, as he did at Bethel,
when he was leaving Beer-sheba for Haran,
and said, 3" am the COP of thy fathers, fear
not to go down into Egypt, for | will there
make thee great nation and will surely
hrin0 thaa mn ouoio opd Jocaph eboIl cloca
thine eyes" 1t is possible that Jacob had
intended to settle his encampment at Beer
sheba, on the border of Canaan toward
Egypt, and from there make visit only to
Joseph in Egypt, but that the assuring dream
finally decided him to accept tie invitation
of Pharaoh to occupy portion of the land
of Egypt. The original promise that his pos.
terity should become great and possess the
land of Canaan, was repeated, though it was
intimated that he himself should die in
Egypt, and that Joseph, his beloved son, OF
whom he had been SO long bereft, should
close his eyes. When they started again on
their journey, with all their possessions, to
go into Egypt, Judah was sent ahead to OBJ
tain from Joseph the necessary instruction as
guide them to their destination Joseph went
TO Goshen, when the emigrants had arrived
and appeared before his father in royal
splendor and embraced him affectionately
Jacob declared that now he had seen the face
of Joseph alive he was ready or willing tc
die. Joseph returned to announce the ar
rival of his fathers family to Pharaoh, aftel
advising what they should say in case they
were called to appear before the king.
Q-6) When Joseph had announced tc
Pharaoh the arrival of his relatives he pre-.
scented five of his brethren to the king, who
asked them about their occupation; and &C.
cording 80 Joseph's instructions they replied
that they were herdsmen who had come tC
sojourn in the land, because the pasture fol
their focks had failed in Canaan on accoun
of the drouth. For some unexplained rea
son shepherds were abhorred by the Egyp-
tians (xlyi. 34l. The brothers declared thai
they had come, not to become permanent res.
idents of the country, but to stay only during
the continuance of the famine, and asked
that they might be permitted to occupy the
grazing lands which bordered their owr
country. The king was pleased to gram
their request, and authorized Joseph to make
their settlement accordingly, and to selec
capable men from among his brethren tt
snperintend the shepherds of the royal herds
which may have been kept in that region, al
being the best pasture land of the country.